Builder&#39;s guide



G. H. HARRIS BUILDERS GUIDE Jan. 9, 1934.

Filed Feb. 1, 932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 MJ W imam tom Jan. 9, 1934.

G. H. HARRIS 1,943,017

BUILDERS GUIDE Filed Feb. 1, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 4 w: (3 I 1L I i ll I I V0 7 J 5 1 11 M 3 5m I l 22 g G. H. HARRIS BUILDERS GUIDE Jan. 9, 1934.

s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 1, 1932 Elma/whoa Patented .ien. 9, 1934 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a guide for use by artisans in the construction of walls of masonry, concrete and like materials.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this type adapted to be erected within the wall area and to adjustably support a plumb line in such a manner that the same can be held taut after it has been set and thereby guide the mason or other artisan during the erection of 0 a number ofcourses of brick or other materials.

Another object is to provide a guide which can, when erected, take care of a considerable area of wall construction, it thus being possible to use the guide not only as a means for indicating the proper locations of the courses but also for designating those courses where special construction is required, such as the beginning of window or door openings, etc.

A still further object is to provide guides which can be set up before the commencement of a long period of work, it being possible for the artisans to follow the lines established by the guides and to take care of any special constructions even though the foreman or other overseer 5 is not present to be consulted.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of con- 0 struction hereinafter described and claimed, it

being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of the brick wall of a structure showing a guide assembled therewith.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line 22, Figure l, the reel being removed.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the arm and its attaching means.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the arm and its attaching means, showing a portion of a supporting standard and also illustrating the reel in section.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5, Figure 4, the plumb line being shown equipped with a plumb bob.

igure 6 is a perspective view of lapping portions of a modified form of standard.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view partly in plan and partly in section of attaching means for use in connection with a standard of the type shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a plan view of a reinforced structure such as can be erected by the aid of guides constituting the present invention, portions of the structure being broken away to show standards embedded therein.

Figure 9 is a plan view more or less in diagram showing a portion of the structure showing the locations of guides to be used as an aid in the erection of the structure.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a standard which can be a round rod as shown in Figures 2 and 4 or, if preferred, can comprise a length of angle iron as shown at 2 in Figure 6. In any event the rod is provided with regularly spaced graduations 3 for indicating the positions of the several courses of materials to be laid in the construction of a wall. If a rod constitutes the standard there is combined therewith a clamp consisting of an angular jaw 4 having a side arm 5 terminating in a lateral extension 6. This extension carries a clamping screw '7 so that when a rod 1 is placed against jaw 4 it can be bound tight thereagainst by means of the screw '7.

Extending from one end of the clamp is an ear 8 which, in turn, is lapped by an ear 9 extending from one end of an arm 10. A clamping screw 11 extends through the two ears and, if desired, washers 12 can be placed on opposite faces of ear 8 so as to insure sufiicient frictional engagement to prevent free swinging of arm 10 relative to ear 8 when screw 11 is tightened.

A longitudinal slot 13 is formed in arm 10 and slidably mounted on said arm is a sleeve 14 carrying a yoke 15. A reel 16 is journaled in the yoke and carries a plumb line 17 which ordinarily supports a plumb bob 18. Reel 16 can be held against rotation by any suitable means. Fdi' example, a set screw 19 can be extended through one side of the yoke 15 into engagement with one side of reel 16. By means of a crank 20 or the like the reel can be readily rotated to wind or unwind the line 17.

An arm 21 is suspended from sleeve 14 and carries a guide 22 through which the line 17 extends. This arm 21 can be reversibly mounted on the sleeve 14. For example, a slide 23 can be connected to the arm 21 and moved into engagement with grooved sides 24 of the sleeve. By means of a set screw 25 this slide can be held against movement. However, by loosening the set screw the slide can be moved into position along the sleeve 14 or it can be entirely removed, 1 10 reversed, and then replaced. Thus it is possible to support the guide 22 in any desired position relative to the slide. It is even possible to locate the guide beyond the end of arm 10 by adjusting sleeve 14 to the end of the arm and then reversing the guide and its arm 21 from the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 4.

Obviously means other than those described can be employed for adjustably, detachably, and reversibly connecting the guide to the sleeve.

In using the present device as a guide in the erection of a wall the foundation F is first laid and the lower end of a standard 1 is embedded therein and arranged substantially vertically. This standard is of such length as to extend above a number of courses of materials to be laid. The clamp is adjusted along the standard to a point near the top thereof and fastened securely in position. The plumb line with its bob attached is paid out until it extends to a point below the lowest course to be laid. Arm 10 is then adjusted angularly and sleeve 14 is adjusted longitudinally until the plumb line is brought to proper position for use as a guide.

After this adjustment has been effected the parts are tightened, and a nail or the like is forced into the foundation at the point indicated by the plumb line. The plumb bob is then removed and the line is fastened to the nail or the like which has been indicated at M. After one or more guides have been set up as herein explained, tags, one of which has been indicated at T, can be used on one or more of the standards at the graduation or graduations indicating the course or courses where variations are to be made in the construction of the wall. These tags can bear instructions to the artisans. For example, if a window opening is to be formed commencing with the 30th course of brick or other material to be laid, a tag bearing that information will be attached to the standard at the graduation indicating the selected course and this tag can also point where the opening is to be located on said course and the proportions of the opening. Obviously after guides have been erected and the desired information applied, the artisans can be left to erect a section of the wall without being under the constant supervision of a foreman or other overseer.

The walls will be erected in the usual manner, the proper placing of the courses being indicated by the graduations 3. The lines erected will be placed at the different angles in the building structure. For example, when various angles both external and internal are to be provided as in Figure 9, the standards can be located adjacent to all of these angles and can carry enough arms 10 to support the proper number of plumb lines to indicate the correct positions of the angles. These locations of the standards have been designated at 1 in Figure 9 and the wall structure is indicated at W.

As the walls are erected, following the lines indicated by the guides, the standards 1 are gradually embedded therein and when a floor level is reached or any other point is arrived at where reinforcing or tie rods R are to be used, said rods can be laid with their hooked ends H embedded in the walls and embracing one or more of the anchored standards 1. In this connection attention is directed to Figure 8.

When it is desired to again place the standards prior to the erection of additional courses, additional standards 1 are anchored in the completed portions of the Wall so as to extend Well above them whereupon the arms 10, plumb lines 1'7, and tags T are replaced and adjusted. The continued construction can then be proceeded with.

Should angular standards 2 be used, a clamp such as illustrated in Figure 7 could be employed. This clamp comprises a jaw 26 for embracing one edge of the standard while a slidable jaw 27 is mounted for engagement with the opposed edge of the standard 3. The two jaws are adjustably connected by the provision of a slot 28 in which is mounted a bolt 29 extending from jaw 27. The ear 30 extending from jaw 26 is adapted to be engaged by arm 10 in the same manner as heretofore explained in connection with the jaw 4.

What is claimed is:

A builders guide including a standard graduated to indicate the location of courses to be erected, a reel, means for connecting the reel to the standard for adjustment longitudinally of the standard, angularly relative thereto, and toward or from the standard, a guide detachably and adjustabiy connected to the reel, said reel and guide being adjustable together relative to the standard, and a plumb line carried by the reel and extending through said guide.

GEORGE HOWARD HARRIS. 

